Account-book



N0. '7 l8,789. PATENTED JAN; 5, 1904.

J. H. RAND. v ACCOUNT BOOK.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 31, 1902.

no MODEL. N

' f nu 7" 'W! n i in i lf i/ """---z of the columns out of alinementwith the the column of names on the long leaf and UNITED STATES PatentedJanuary 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ACCOUNT-BOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,789, dated January5, 1904.

Application filed July 31 1902.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES H. RAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of-Niagara and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Account Books, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to record and account books, but moreparticularly to the daily-balance lodgers used in banks and composed ofsections each comprising along leaf on the left-hand margin of which thedepositors names are written or printed in a vertical column inalphabetical order and a number of short' leaves which termiuateat whichare ruled into groups of vertical colums for the'entry of deposits,checks, and balances, a group of such columns being provided for eachdays business.

In large and active banks entries have to be" made quickly, owing to thegreat volume of. business transacted in a-comparatively short time, andin such institutions it is impracticable to employ a large number ofshort leaves in each alphabetical. section of the ledger, because theleaves sag to such an extent as to throw the horizontal entry-spacesname-spaces of the large or index leaves of the sections.Unless,therefore, the bookkeeper works slowly with such a ledger he isliable to make entries opposite the wrong names. To guard against sucherrors, it has been the custom in the larger banks to use lodgers. witha comparatively small number of such short leaves in each section; butthis arrange ,ment requires the depositors names to be rewritten orprinted at correspondingly short intervals, entailing much extra workwhen the names are written and incurring extra ex pense when they areprinted.

One of theobjects of my invention is to; provide an improved account-book of this character which permits the use of a comparatively largenumber of leaves inthe various sections without any greater liabilityofmak:

ing mistakes than with a ledger having a smallnumber ofgleaves in asection, thus savlng the time incidentto frequently rewriting thedepositors names.

Ledgers of the above description have the fierial No. 1 17,860. (liemodel.)

further objection that in case a depositor discontinues his account thename of anew depositor cannot without causing confusion be substitutedfor that of the old depositor until the next set of leaves of thatparticular sectionis opened by rewriting the names. My invention has thefurther object to provide means which in such a case permits anewdepositors name to be readily substituted in such a way that noconfusion results and so that the place where the old account ends andthe new one begins can be quickly referred to at some future time, ifdesired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of an openbank-ledger with bound leaves embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is atransverse section of the book, taken centrally through its back. Fig. 3is an enlarged fragmentary section of the sliding and reversible indexin line 8 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified constructionofthe index. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section in line 5 5, Fig. 2,showing one of the pintle-pockets.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring toFig. 1, A indicates the long or wide leaf of the section atwhich the, ledger is opened, and B the short or narrow leaves of thesamesection. A indicates the usual column of depositors names written orprinted adjacent to the left-hand edge of the wide loaf A, the namesbeing arranged in alphabetical order to serve as an index and each wideleaf of a section forming part of this index in a manner common to suchlodgers. C C 0 indicate the groups of vertical columns for the entry ofthe deposits, checks, and balances or other desired entries, thesecolumns being subdivided into the usual horizontal spaces which coincidewith the spaces, In the ledger shown of the. name-column A.

in the drawings each short leaf has six groups of columns on each sideor enough for two weeks business, and each section preferably containstwenty-six of such leaves, so as to last a whole year, thus requiringthe names to bewritteu or printed but once a year. With each of thesesections of leaves is combined a movable index D, consisting of anarrowstrip of stiff material, such as sheet metal or cardboard, arranged toextend across the pages parallel with their vertical entry-columns andbearing a duplicate of the deposi-.

tors names on the wide leaf A of the corresponding section and locatedin line therewith. Each of these movable indexes is mounted toslidelaterally onaswinging frame E, which is hinged to the book in sucha manner that the index may be placed upon either of the opposing pagesat which the book is opened and slid adjacent to the columns in whichthe current days entries are to be made for insuring the correct entryof the amounts opposite the corresponding names. The swinging frames arepreferably constructed of heavy wire and composed of longitudinal armsor bars e e, extending along the upper and lower edges of theleaves, anda transverse bar a, connecting the outer ends of said bars and extendingalong the free vertical edges of the leaves, thethree bars formingasubstantially U-shaped frame. In order to permit the hinged frame tolie substantially parallel with the leaves, and thus allow the index Dto lie flat on the page, the inner ends of the frame are pivotally orfiexibly connected with the back or bound portion of the book,preferably by a double joint,

consisting of short links 6 pivoted at their outer ends to the innerends of the upper and lower frame-bars by transverse pins 6 and at theirinner ends to transverse pivot-pins or pintles f, which are confinedcentrally in the sections of leaves and project beyond the adjacentedges of the leaves. These pintles may be held in place by any suitablemeans; but they are preferably inserted in transverse loops or pocketsg, of canvas or other suitable material, which loops are bound in thebook with the leaves, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5. The sliding index Dis provided at its ends with transverse slides or sleeves h, whichsnugly embrace the upper and lower bars of the swinging frame and whichpermit the index to be shifted laterally thereon, but at the same timekeep it firmly in position, so as to hold it from tilting or twistingand maintain its names in proper register with the correspondingentry-spaces of the ledge rpages.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the index-strip has thedepositors names only on one side, and it is reversibly mounted on itsswinging carrying-frame E by trunnions 2', secured to its ends andturning in bearings t", arranged centrally on the sleeves, so that inswinging the index from one of two opposing pages to the other it may bereversed to face upward in either position.

If desired, the index may be rigidly secured to its guide-sleeves, asshown in Fig. 4, in which case it is necessary to place the depositorsnames on both sides of the strip, so that those on one side will beexposed when the index is laid upon the left-hand page and those on theopposite side be exposed when the index is laid on the-right-hand page.

As shown in Fig. 1, the several index-carrying frames E extend aroundthe upper, lower, and outer edges of the short leaves of the sections,and when the book is closed their outer transverse bars e occupy thespaces between the outer margins of the long leaves A. The frames donot, therefore, interfere with the closing of the book nor render thesame any less compact than ordinary accountbooks of this kind.

In the use of the book after opening the same at the desired section thecorresponding index D is slid beside the current days entrycolumns C 0'0*, thus requiring the eye to be cast over a comparatively short spaceand lessening the liability of making an entry on the wrong line. When apage is filled up, the

index is raised from the same by means of the hinged frame, the page isturned over upon the preceding leaf, and the index is replaced upon thenew page. As the index is in this manner successively placed upon eachindividual page of the corresponding section, the n umber of leaves thatmay be placed in a section and yet insure accurate entries is limitedonly by the requirements of convenience in the size and manipulation ofthe book, and each section may, if desired, contain twentysix shortleavesenough to last a year-thus greatly reducing the time and laborincidental to rewriting the names at comparatively short intervals orthe extra cost of repeatedly printing the same.

It will be observed that the several movable indexes D are not requiredto be detached from their swinging guide and carrying-frames E when apage is filled with entries; but the indexes remain permanently attachedto the frames and the latter to the book. This avoids the loss of timeand inconvenience attending the use of books in which the movableindexes must be detached from their guides and again replaced beforebeginning a new page.

The names may be written or printed directly upon the paper or othermaterial of the index-strips D; but the latter are preferably providedwith a vertical row of bold ers or pockets j, registering with thehorizontal entry-spaces of the columns C O O and adapted to receiveremovable cards or slips j, which bear the names of the depositors. Thisconstruction permits the cardsto be readily changed when a depositordiscontinues his account, and the name of a new depositor is substitutedfor that of the old one. The card-holders shown in the drawings consistof a strip of metal having card-retaining flanges at its upper and loweredges and at one end, the opposite end of the holder being open for theinsertion and,removal of the card. In connection with these changeablename or index cards I preferably employ substitute name-tabs k, whichare attached to the outer vertical edges of the leaves on which changesoccur in the names of accounts. These tabs, which are preferably coloredto render them conspicuous,correspond in width with the spaces of thename-columns A and are adapted to overlie such spaces. In the use ofthis feature of the invention when it is desired to substitute a newdepositors name for that of a discontinued one the bookkeeper at thetime of changing the correspond ing card on the movable index D writesthe new depositors name upon such a tab and then pastes or otherwiseattaches it to the edge of the leaf in the proper place to register withand cover the depositors name previously written or printed in thename-space in line with the changed index-card. At the same time thebookkeeper crosses off the former depositors name, but does not eraseit. Should it later be desired to refer to the page where the substitutedepositors account was commenced or the previous depositors account wasdiscontinued, this can be readily done by turning to the proper sectionand opening the same at the tab by seizing the latter. The use of suchtabs in conjunction with the changeable name-cards of the movable indexD permits the entry-spaces opposite a discontinuing depositorsname to beutilized throughout the remaining leaves of the corresponding sectionwithout confusing the original and substituted accounts, thus avoidingwaste of the remaining entry-spaces opposite the names of discontinuedaccounts, which would otherwise occur.

While my improvements are herein shown and described in connection withabook having tightbound or permanent leaves, the

same are equally applicable to loose leaf lodgers and to other recordand account books of various kinds.

I claim as my invention 1. A record or account book having a hingedguide-frame capable of swinging to either side of the open book, and anindex carried by said frame and capable of sliding thereon,substantially as set forth.

2. A record or account book having a' hinged frame capable of swingingto either side of the open book, slides mounted on said frame, and anindex reversibly mounted on said slides, substantially as set forth.

3. A record or account book having a hinged guide-frame capable ofswinging to either side of the open book, slides mounted on said frame,and an index carried by said slides and capable of swiveling thereon,substantially as set forth.

4. A record or account book having a swinging guide-frame hinged to theupper and lower edges of the book by a flexible joint, and an indexcarried by said frame and capable of sliding thereon, substantially asset forth.

5. A record or account book havinga swinging guide-frame hinged to thesame bya double joint which consists of links pivoted at their innerends to the back of the book and at their outer ends to the upper andlower members of the frame, and an index carried by said frame,substantially as set forth.

6. A record or account book having a pocket or loop bound in its back, ahinged guide-frame having pintles arranged in said loop, and an indexcarried by said frame, substantially as set forth.

7. Arecord or account book having aswinging U-shaped guideframe hingedat its inner ends to the back or binding edge of the book and extendingaround the upper, lower and outer edges of its leaves, and an indexcarried by said frame and capable of sliding laterally on the upper andlower members thereof, substahtially as set forth.

8. A record or account book having long leaves each provided on itsouter margin with an index-column divided into name-spaces, a short leafor leaves terminating at said index-column and having entry-spaces whichregister with said name-spaces, and a substitute name tab or tabsapplied to the outer edges of said short leaf or leaves, each of saidtabs being arranged in line with one of said entry spaces and thecorresponding name-space of the index-column and extending beyond theshort leaves sufficiently to overlie said name-space, substantially asso forth.

Witness my hand this 28th day of July, 1902.

JAMES H. RAND. Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, THEo. L. Port.

